Lewis acid catalyst composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a Lewis acid catalyst composition comprising a specific mixed medium and a Lewis acid catalyst (II), wherein the specific mixed medium is mixed medium (I) comprising a perfluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon (A) and at least one non-fluorinated hydrocarbon or a mixed medium (I′) comprising a perfluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon (A), a perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon (C) and water (D), and wherein the Lewis acid catalyst (II) is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds respectively represented by the following formulae (1), (2) and (3): (R f SO 3 ) n M  (1), [(R f SO 2 ) 2 N] n M  (2), and [(R f SO 2 ) 3 C] n M  (3). Also disclosed is a Lewis acid catalyst represented by the above-mentioned formula (3).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A Lewis acid catalyst composition comprising (I) a mixed medium and (II) a Lewis acid catalyst, 
       said mixed medium (I) comprising (A) a perfluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon or alicyclic hydrocarbon, and (B) at least one non-fluorinated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon or alicyclic hydrocarbon; a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, exclusive of a fluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon or alicyclic hydrocarbon; an aromatic hydrocarbon; and a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, exclusive of a fluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon,  
       said Lewis acid catalyst (II) being at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds respectively represented by the following formulae (1), (2) and (3):  
       
         
           (R f SO 3 ) n M  (1),  
         
       
       
         
           [(R f SO 2 ) 2 N] n M  (2),  
         
       
       and 
       
         
           [(R f SO 2 ) 3 C] n M  (3)  
         
       
        wherein R f  represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, M represents a rare earth element, and n represents an integer equivalent to the valence of M.  
     
     
       2. The Lewis acid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said mixed medium (I) further comprises (C) a perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       3. The Lewis acid catalyst composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the total volume of said perfluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon or alicyclic hydrocarbon (A) and said non-fluorinated hydrocarbon (B) to the volume of said perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon (C) is 1.5 or more. 
     
     
       4. The Lewis acid catalyst composition according to  claim 1  or  2 , which further comprises (III) at least one nucleophilic reagent. 
     
     
       5. A Lewis acid catalyst composition comprising (I′) a mixed medium and (II) a Lewis acid catalyst, 
       said mixed medium (I′) comprising (A) a perfluorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon or alicyclic hydrocarbon, (C) a perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon, and (D) water, and  
       said Lewis acid catalyst (II) being at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds respectively represented by the following formulae (1), (2) and (3):  
       
         
           (R f SO 3 ) n M  (1),  
         
       
       
         
           [(R f SO 2 ) 2 N] n M  (2),  
         
       
       and 
       
         
           [(R f SO 2 ) 3 C] n M  (3)  
         
       
       wherein R f  represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, M represents a rare earth element, and n represents an integer equivalent to the valence of M. 
     
     
       6. The Lewis acid composition according to  claim 5 , which further comprises (III) at least one nucleophilic reagent. 
     
     
       7. A Lewis acid catalyst represented by the following formula (3): 
       
         
           [(R f SO 2 ) 3 C] n M  (3)  
         
       
       wherein R f  represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, M represents a rare earth element, and n represents an integer